Have you used the Pomodoro Technique? Did/does it work well for you?

Haven’t used that technique per se. But I use 45-min work intervals and breaks to allow for optimal productivity. There is a lot of evidence in favor of similar techniques. The interval depends on the person I’d say.

Cons?

I don’t use that technique but looking over my day I think I naturally do just that. I work in spurts and find myself just roaming the plant about every hour just to get out from behind this desk. I am intrigued by the concept and the possible comments here.

No.It would not work well for me.If I am onto an idea i will try to work until it is done or at a managable stage.

@lucillelucillelucille when you’re doing what kind of work, painting – writing – programming? I think the task is relevant to the method.

Any work,whether it be my artwork,painting the fence,discussing a problem with someone,I like to tackle it immediately and get it done.I am like that with most things.Will I paint the fence in the dark?Got a good spotlight?I am nothng if not tenacious;)

@lucillelucillelucille painting and talking, sure.
Programing, writing, reading etc – (for me at least) – I find work optimally with intervals.

I’m a programmer and I’m thinking of trying it out during my workday.

@phoebusg -It still doesn’t matter to me whether it be of a physical nature a mental task or both.I don’t like to stop for breaks.

@lucillelucillelucille are you aware of your productivity ‘curve’, are you as productive throughout, or is it a spike that is constantly dropping? What if you could have a higher productivity and frequent breaks, versus one long block that has overall less productivity. Think about it quantitatively and qualitatively. You may be different, but productivity curves usually have a spike and then a constant drop.

I haven’t tried it, but thanks for sharing. I don’t think it would work for me, personally, because my brain and body take just about 25 minutes to get up and rolling. I’d never get anything done.

It sounds interesting… so, you work for 25 minutes and then break for how long?
I’m not sure it would work for me my brain must be similar to @ubersiren‘s but I wouldn’t mind trying it out with more info.

Don’t get hung up on the interval. It is relative to your person. But if you’re somehow paying attention to your productivity – find the point at which if you stopped and started again your overall productivity based on time would improve.

The book is free to download: http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/resources/cirillo/ThePomodoroTechnique_v1-3.pdf

I’m going to read it tonight.

I’ve used this and I think it’s a great especially for long tasks that I tend to put off, because it breaks them into manageable chunks. So it’s really helpful for things that – quite frankly – I’d rather not be doing but have to get done. (Studying, housework, long translations). It takes a while to get used to, but for me the biggest advantage is the mandatory break after 25 min. If it stops you in the middle of something, you have a strong motivation to continue.
Caveat: I tried this to help my 9-year-old with his homework, but it didn’t really work. He still got distracted.